Ronnie Gardner wins Top Dawg at
Dunn-Benson
If it were up to Ronnie Gardner, all
future drag racing events would be moved
to Dunn-Benson Drag Strip, where he is
building an incredible win streak.
Gardner, behind the wheel of "Diamond"
Jack Gaddy's 68 Camaro, emerged as
the Top Dawg series winner last
Saturday, August 23. To fully appreciate
Gardner's win streak at Dunn-Benson,
you'll have to go back to the 2007
season, when the 1/8 mile facility in
Benson, NC first launched its Top
Dawg series. Five events were held in
2007, four of which were won by Gardner,
including the last 4 Top Dawg races last
season. Gardner took a break this
past June, only to return last Saturday
for, you guessed it, another Top Dawg
win at Dunn-Benson. "I don't know what
it is about this place, but we always
have good luck here," commented Gardner.
Gardner set the pace early last
Saturday, and after 3 sessions of
qualifying found himself sitting atop
the 8 car field with a 4.26 @ 172mph. In
round one eliminations, Gardner rolled
to the line to meet the 63 Corvette of
Flip Spinks. Spinks was away first, but
his 4.38 came up short against Gardner's
4.23 e.t. Gardner then met
Joel Douglas in the semi-finals.
Gardner sharpened his reaction time from
the previous round, and was out of the
gate first. Gardner's 4.24 was able to
get around Douglas' 4.31 e.t.
In the finals, Gardner met
Brian Williams, who stopped Tracy
Cockman and Jason Harris, en route
to this final round showdown with
Gardner. Both drivers were sharp and
ready, each cutting their best lights of
the night. Brian Williams was away first
with an .011 reaction time, with Gardner
out of the gate with an .025 rt. A very
close race at the 1/8 mile stripe,
Gardner's 4.24 @ 172mph, got the win
light over Williams' 4.27 @ 171mph.
Gardner, resident of
Greensboro, NC, has been driving
for car owner Jack Gaddy since joining
forces 2 years ago. Gardner launched his
Prime Time Race Cars business 10 years,
and has also enjoyed a very successful
season as a driver in 2008. Wins this
season include a Pro Mod powerglide race
at Piedmont, 2 Big Dogs, 1 Mad Dawg and
most recently, his Top Dawg victory from
Saturday night. "Last year we
should have won a bunch of races that we
didn't, but this year we're probably
winning a few that we shouldn't,"
laughed Gardner, as he reflected on the
season thus far.
Gardner, 43, who will become a
grandfather in October was quick to give
credit to a very efficient race team.
"I've got to thank Greg, Robbie, Brian,
Jack and Nicole for all their help,"
said Gardner.
Story
and photo by:
Van
Abernethy Press Releases
